For the fourth time since 2002, the Georgia Lady Bulldogs finished as the national runners-up at the NCAA Championships, finishing with 400.5 points at the three-day meet.

Behind national championship efforts from Allison Schmitt (500 freestyle), Wendy Trott (1,650 freestyle), and the 200 medley relay team of Kristen Shickora, Kelly McNichols, Lisa Caprioglio and Anne-Marie Botek, the Lady Bulldogs trailed by one point heading into the final relay, but an NCAA record performance by the California 400 freestyle relay team secured the team championship for the Bears.

In all, 16 Georgia participants combined for 44 All-America honors at the championships. In addition to three event victories, the Lady Bulldogs were paced by sophomore Morgan Scroggy, who finished each of her seven races in the top eight. In all, Georgia swimmers combined for 34 top eight finishes, including relay teams.Georgia Ranked No. 2 In Final Dual Meet PollThe Georgia Lady Bulldogs finished the season ranked second in the final College Swim Coaches Association of America dual meet poll.

The Lady Bulldogs finished with three out of 10 possible first-place votes and recorded 293 total points. Stanford finished No. 1 overall with seven first place votes and 297 total points. Georgia finished the year with a 9-0 record and a 5-0 conference mark, its ninth undefeated season in the last 13 years.

The Streak ContinuesIn addition to winning the 2008 UGA Fall Invitational, the Lady Bulldogs defeated three opponents at the Gabrielsen Natatorium this season, extending their home dual meet-winning streak to 65 consecutive victories.

On Nov. 14, Georgia defeated the Auburn Tigers 167-128 in its first home dual of the season. On Nov. 21, Georgia defeated Emory, then in their final home dual meet of the year, the Lady Bulldogs faced No. 3 Texas. It was one of the closest meets for the Lady Bulldogs all season as Georgia defeated Texas 159-141 to maintain a home dual meet-winning streak that dates back to the 1995-1996 season.

Georgia Finishes 3rd At SECsThe Georgia Lady Bulldogs battled Florida and Auburn for the team title at the 2009 SEC Swimming and Diving Championship that finished as the third most closely contested meet in the history of the event. Florida won the championship with 744 points, with Auburn finishing second with 730.5 points and the Lady Bulldogs coming in third with 725 points. It was the second straight year Georgia finished third at the conference meet, but scored nearly 160 points more than a year ago.

Schmitt Named SEC Freshman Swimmer of the YearFreshman Allison Schmitt was named SEC Female Freshman Swimmer of the Year following her efforts at the 2009 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships. Schmitt scored one individual victory during the meet, leading a Georgia sweep of the 500 freestyle. In leading off the second place 800 free relay team, Schmitt set a school and SEC record time of 1:42.90 in her 200 free split.

She finished second in three events, including the 200 freestyle, and in the 400 free relay and the before-mentioned 800 free relay. She earned a fifth-place finish in the 100 freestyle.

Scroggy 3rd In SEC High PointWith 52 total points in the meet, sophomore Morgan Scroggy finished third in the running for the Commissioner’s Trophy, which is awarded to the highest individual points scorer at the SEC Championships. The winners, Gemma Spoforth of Florida and Ava Ohlgren of Auburn, scored 57 points each for their respective teams.

Scroggy won an SEC Championship in the 100 freestyle and had third-place efforts in the 200 freestyle and 200 individual medley.

Earning Conference HonorsThe SEC named 10 Georgia swimmers First or Second Team All-SEC members following the conference meet. Members included on the first team were Anne-Marie Botek for her win in the 50 free, Allison Schmitt in the 500 free, Morgan Scroggy in the 100 free and Wendy Trott in the 1,650 free.

Six other Lady Bulldog swimmers were included on the second team. Jessica Cole, Kelly McNichols, Chelsea Nauta, Aleksandra Putra, Michelle McKeehan and Mhyria Miller earned Second Team All-SEC status.

Caprioglio Named Scholar-Athlete Award WinnerLisa Caprioglio was chosen as the 2009 SEC Female Scholar-Athlete Award recipient. Caprioglio, an international business major, was named the recipient of the Ramsey Scholarship for Academic/Athletic Excellence and was named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll while maintaining a 4.0 GPA while at Georgia. As a sophomore, Caprioglio was chosen as a CSCA Academic All-American.

While at the SECs, Caprioglio finished ninth in the 200 butterfly and 10th in the 200 individual medley.

The Georgia Bulldogs had two national championship performances and eight athletes combine for 20 All-America honors in finishing 10th at the NCAA Championships. Troyden Prinsloo (500 freestyle) and Neil Versfeld (200 breaststroke) won individual events for the Bulldogs, while Mark Dylla finished as the runner-up in the 200 butterfly for the second year in a row.

During the meet, Georgia qualified six swimmers to the medal stand, earning All-America honors. Prinsloo recorded two All-America honors, winning the 1,650 free and finishing fifth in the 500 free; Versfeld recorded a win in the 200 breaststroke and was eighth in the 100 breaststroke; and Peter Benner finished eighth in the 400 individual medley. Georgia’s 800 freestyle and the 200 and 400 medley relays also earned HM All-America distinction.

Versfeld Sets New 200-yard breaststroke recordGeorgia senior Neil Versfeld did more than just win a national championship in the 200-yard breaststroke at the NCAA Championships. Versfeld recorded the fastest time in history in the event as he clocked a time of 1:51.40 to earn his first career national championship.

Versfeld ended his career with the Bulldogs as a seven-time All-American and leaves with school records in both breaststroke distances and as a member of Georgia’s medley relay teams.

Bulldogs Earn 4th Place at SEC ChampionshipsFor the second straight season, the Georgia Bulldogs recorded a fourth-place finish at the SEC Championships. During the four-day meet, the Bulldogs totaled 435.5 points, their highest point total in the last three trips to the annual conference meet. Georgia had five individual event champions and set five school records during the meet, which was won by Auburn.

Benner Named SEC Male Freshman Of The YearGeorgia freshman Peter Benner was one of Georgia’s most consistent performers during the SEC Championships, scoring 27 individual points for the Bulldogs. As a result, he was named SEC Male Freshman of the Year, the second straight year a Georgia swimmer has earned the award; Mark Dylla won the honor last year.

Benner advanced to the evening finals in three events, including a second place finish in the 400 individual medley and swims in the consolation finals of the 200 individual medley and 200 butterfly. In his first season with the Bulldogs, Benner recorded new school records in the 200 freestyle and the 200 individual medley and is third in the 400 individual medley. He was once named SEC Male Freshman of the Week.

Earning Conference HonorsFollowing their performances at the conference meet, six Bulldogs were honored by being named either First or Second Team All-SEC. Troyden Prinsloo and Neil Versfeld won two events each for the men’s team at the SEC Championships. Prinsloo won the 500 and 1,650 freestyle events, marking the fifth straight year a Georgia swimmer has won the events; Sebastien Rouault had won both races the past four years.

Versfeld earned his first two victories at the SEC Championships when he won the 100 and 200 breaststroke events, setting new school records in each event and setting a new NCAA record in the 200 breaststroke.

Mark Dylla recorded his second straight victory in the 200 butterfly when he finished the course in a time of 1:41.61. Second Team All-SEC members included Peter Benner in the 400 individual medley, and Craig Jennings and Chris Spooner with the 400 medley relay team.

Georgia 12th In Final Dual Meet Season PollThe last piece to the 2008-2009 dual meet season was added when the College Swim Coaches Association of America released its final dual meet rankings of the season. Georgia finished 12th in the final poll and was the fourth-highest SEC team ranked in the poll. This season, Georgia faced six teams that finished in the poll’s top 25, including four in the top 10.

French Named Georgia’s McWhorther Scholar-AthleteKit French, a senior from Maineville, Ohio, has a 3.72 grade point average, majoring in Biology. He is a four-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, the Georgia Athletics Director Honor Roll, the Dean’s List and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. He is a member of Delta Iota Epsilon Honor Society and a holder of UGA’s Ramsey Endowed Scholarship for Athletic and Academic Excellence.

A backstroke specialist, French has been the Bulldogs’ team captain this season and is a four-year letterwinner. He qualified and competed at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials. He is ranked ninth all-time at Georgia in the 100-yard backstroke and finished eighth at the 2008 SEC Championships in the 100 back.Upon graduation, French plans to attend dental school and has aspirations of becoming a dentist.